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Early April the Alliance hosted its annual Congress at the Peter Doherty Institute, centred around the theme Reimagining Global Health: Challenges and Opportunities within our communities. Bringing together leading experts and leaders, the Congress offered a powerful space for reimagining global health—especially in these complex and uncertain times. Each session addressed pressing challenges, while discussing bold ideas for building a more equitable and sustainable global health future.
This year’s Congress took place amidst significant global shifts—most notably, the effects of changes in US foreign policy, including major cuts to research funding. These developments sparked important conversations around the opportunities for countries and regions to step up and lead with innovative, locally driven solutions.
We were honoured to open the Congress with remarks from Alliance Chair Professor Brendan Crabb AC, followed by Dr. Lucas de Toca, Australia’s Ambassador for Global Health. The opening moderated keynote, with Professor Adeeba Kamarulzaman (CEO, Monash University Malaysia), set the tone for the day by highlighting the key priorities and opportunities we must collectively pursue in global health.
The Congress was anchored around three thematic snapshot conversations, each diving into an important issue:
- Gender Equality – Status quo of gender equality: terminal or treatable?
Moderated by Dr. Danielle Stefanski with Dr. Cathy Vaughan, Dorjjanstan (Jack) Ganbaatar, and A/Prof. Meru Sheel. - Climate Emergency and Planetary Health – Dangerous liaisons in planetary health: will politics and profits be our demise?
Moderated by Dr. Selina Namchee Lo with Dr. Donald Wilson and Prof. Kathryn Bowen. - Humanitarian Crises – Reclaiming empathy in humanitarian crises: is global solidarity still alive?
Moderated by Rev Tim Costello AO with Arunn Jegan and Dr. Rachel Coghlan.
We also showcased some Australian contributions to Global Health Research and development (R&D) innovation demonstrating tangible benefits of investing in shared solutions. This session also featured the Australian launch of the seminal Lancet Commission on Oxygen Supply—a critical yet often overlooked issue in our region.
Speakers for this session included:
- Barbara Roth – Medicines Development for Global Health
- A/Prof Misha Coleman – Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer
- A/Prof Pete Lambert – Inhaled Oxytocin Project
- Rev Tim Costello AO – Safer World For All
- Dr. Hamish Graham – The Lancet Commission on Oxygen Supply
We closed the Congress with a powerful book launch: The Foreign Gaze: Essays on Global Health by our Board Member, Associate Professor Seye Abimbola (University of Sydney). A true pioneer in reimagining global health, Seye’s work challenges conventional thinking and invites us to consider whose voices and perspectives shape the global health agenda. In a thought-provoking conversation moderated by Dr. Selina Namchee Lo, Seye reflected on the inspiration behind his essays and the deeper questions his writing seeks to explore.
It was most appropriate to end the Congress with this launch—a moment that left the audience introspective, inspired, and deeply motivated to contribute to a more equitable, inclusive vision for global health.
Attendees were delighted to receive signed copies of the book, and a free PDF version is available here.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the speakers, moderators, and supporters who made this event possible.
